Source storing apparatus, source guiding system, and source guiding method

Abstract

A source storing apparatus, source guiding system and source guiding method are provided. The source storing apparatus comprises: a source tank and a shielding plug, the source tank being provided with an opening and an accommodating cavity, the accommodating cavity being configured to accommodate a cobalt source box, the shielding plug being configured to seal an opening of the accommodating cavity; wherein a first connecting structure is provided on the cobalt source box; a second connecting structure is provided on an outer side of the shielding plug, a pickup structure is provided on an inner side of the shielding plug, and the first connecting structure is detachably connected to the pickup structure. The structure of the source storing apparatus is simplified; the installation and operation processes are simple with reduced operation requirements, and are time-consuming and labor-consuming. The cost of the source guiding apparatus is also greatly reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A source storing apparatus, comprising: a source tank and a shielding plug, the source tank being provided with an opening and an accommodating cavity, the accommodating cavity being configured to accommodate a cobalt source box, the shielding plug being configured to seal an opening of the accommodating cavity; wherein
 a first connecting structure is provided on the cobalt source box; 
 a second connecting structure is provided on an outer side of the shielding plug and 
 a pickup structure is provided on an inner side of the shielding plug, and the first connecting structure is detachably connected to the pickup structure, 
 wherein the first connecting structure is a connecting slot, the pickup structure is snappable into the connecting slot, the connecting slot comprises a first opening and a second opening that are in communication, wherein the first opening is in a first direction, and the second opening is in a second direction; and the pickup structure is configured to snap fit into the connecting slot through the first opening and get out of the connecting slot through the second opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The source storing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pickup structure is directly connected to the shielding plug; or the pickup structure is connected to the shielding plug through a connecting rod. 
     
     
       3. The source storing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting slot comprises a clamping slot and a compressing slot, wherein a maximum size of the clamping slot is larger than the first opening. 
     
     
       4. The source storing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein when the pickup structure comprises the elastic member, the first opening is larger than a minimum compression size of the elastic member and smaller than a maximum extension size of the elastic member. 
     
     
       5. The source storing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein a maximum size of the clamping slot is larger than the maximum extension size of the elastic member. 
     
     
       6. The source storing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein a maximum size of the compressing slot is smaller than the maximum extension size of the elastic member. 
     
     
       7. The source storing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom size of the second opening is larger than a top size of the second opening, and a maximum opening size of the second opening is larger than or equal to a minimum compression size of the pickup structure. 
     
     
       8. The source storing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein a size of the second opening at a position corresponding to the compressing slot is larger than or equal to the minimum compression size of the pickup structure. 
     
     
       9. A source guiding system, being configured to guide a cobalt source box from a first source storing apparatus into a second source storing apparatus, the cobalt source box further comprising a third connecting structure; and
 the source guiding system comprising: a source guiding tank, the source guiding tank comprising a tank body, a first pull rod and a first opening, a second pull rod and a second opening, wherein the tank body comprises a source-carrying cavity, the first pull rod and the first opening are located on opposite sides of the source-carrying cavity along a first direction, the second pull rod and the second opening are located on opposite sides of the source-carrying cavity along a second direction, the first pull rod moves along the first direction and is connectable to a second connecting structure of a shielding plug of the first source storing apparatus, a pickup structure of the shielding plug is detachably connected to a first connecting structure of the cobalt source box; and the second pull rod moves along the second direction and is connectable to the third connecting structure of the cobalt source box. 
 
     
     
       10. The source guiding system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a first shielding door configured to open and close the first opening; and/or
 the source guiding system further comprising a second shielding door configured to open and close the second opening. 
 
     
     
       11. The source guiding system according to  claim 9 , wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
       12. The source guiding system according to  claim 9 , wherein the first pull rod and/or the second pull rod are/is provided with a position restricting slot, and the source guiding system further comprises a fastener fixable with the position restricting slot to prevent the first pull rod and the second pull rod from rotating. 
     
     
       13. The source guiding system according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 a glass window is provided on the source guiding tank; or 
 at least one of a camera or a detection lamp is further provided within the source-carrying cavity of the source guiding tank. 
 
     
     
       14. The source guiding system according to  claim 9 , wherein the source guiding tank comprises a plurality of components, and the plurality of components is fixedly connected. 
     
     
       15. A source guiding method, being used for guiding a cobalt source box from a source storing apparatus into a radiotherapy device, the method comprising:
 connecting a first connecting structure of the cobalt source box and a pickup structure of a shielding plug of the source storing apparatus; 
 driving a first pull rod to connect the first pull rod to a second connecting structure of the shielding plug of the source storing apparatus, and lifting the shielding plug to a source-carrying cavity of a source guiding tank; 
 driving a second pull rod to connect the second pull rod to a third connecting structure of the cobalt source box; 
 driving the first pull rod to coordinate with the second pull rod, such that the first connecting structure of the cobalt source box separates from the pickup structure; and 
 driving the second pull rod to enable the cobalt source box to enter the radiotherapy device and fix the cobalt source box with the radiotherapy device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the driving the first pull rod to coordinate with the second pull rod, such that the first connecting structure of the cobalt source box separates from the pickup structure specifically comprises:
 driving the first pull rod to move along a first direction such that an elastic member is in a compressing slot; and 
 driving the second pull rod to move along a second direction, such that the pickup structure is disengaged from a connecting slot through a second opening. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: driving the radiotherapy device to switch off and shield a radioactive source. 
     
     
       18. A source guiding method, being applied to the source guiding system according to  claim 9 , wherein the first source storing apparatus is a radiotherapy device, the method comprising:
 driving the first pull rod to connect the first pull rod to the second connecting structure of the shielding plug of the second source storing apparatus, and lifting the shielding plug to the source-carrying cavity of the source guiding tank; 
 driving the second pull rod to connect the second pull rod to the third connecting structure of the cobalt source box, and pulling the cobalt source box to the source-carrying cavity of the source guiding tank; 
 driving the first pull rod to coordinate with the second pull rod, such that the first connecting structure of the cobalt source box is connected to the pickup structure; 
 driving the second pull rod to separate the second pull rod from the cobalt source box; and 
 driving the first pull rod to send the cobalt source box into the second source storing apparatus.